ATP Tour

Ruud on potential Sinner Rome final: 'Try not to think about the big wave'

Casper Ruud secured his place in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia final on Friday, but the Norwegian will have to wait another day to learn who he will face for the trophy. Friday’s second semi-final between Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev was suspended due to rain in the third set, with Sinner leading 6-2, 5-7, 4-2.

Should Sinner advance, it would be the second straight year Ruud would meet him in the Italian capital. The duo faced off in last year’s quarter-finals, in which Sinner dropped only one game to the Norwegian. Ruud knows that a potential final against the home favourite would require a significantly higher level if he is to stop the Italian's pursuit of the Career Golden Masters.

“I just have to try to approach it as any other match,” Ruud said. “Try not to think about the big wave in front, kind of with all the momentum he's building, all the confidence and the records that he's building and breaking.

“At the end of the day, he's human. I have to try to think that way as much as I can. Last year, I was blown out of the court by him. We will both remember it. I hope that's not the case [this time]. I will try to stay in my lane, stay focused on the things I'm doing well. I know that against him, you have to raise your level two or three times to hang with him.”

While Ruud remains determined to rise to the challenge, the 27-year-old is also realistic about the gap that currently separates Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz from the rest of the field, himself included.

“I was one of the players who got my name into the discussion for a few years,” the former World No. 2 said. "I was not able to follow up. I was outplayed by others. Then you have Jannik and Carlos, who have become sort of the unicorns that they have become.

“At times, I can be at home and wish that it were me and not them. At the same time, I'm realistic in thinking that they have something special in them. They also work very, very hard. It's not just because they're talented or this or that that they're so good, they also work very hard.”

Rather than becoming discouraged by the gap, the three-time Grand Slam finalist is focused on rebuilding the level that once helped him climb to No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings. While keeping an eye on the competition, the World No. 25 is steadily working his way back into form this season.

The 27-year-old recently reached the quarter-finals in Madrid and is now in his first Rome final. With his semi-final triumph in the Italian capital, Ruud climbed to No. 17 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is set to return to the Top 20 for the first time since May 2021.

“I got off to a good start in the tournament and built some confidence from there," Ruud said. “I think the match with [Jiri] Lehecka that I won in the third round was building momentum and confidence for me. From there, I've been trying to focus on the things that went well there and keep it going, improve even more if I can.

“Every day, I felt a bit better and better. The couple of sets against [Karen] Khachanov and today [against Luciano Darderi] are some of the best I've felt on court in a long time. So that's a good feeling.”